“Microsoft Corp. will cease introducing new versions of the Zune music and video-player amid tepid demand, helping the company shift its focus to mobile phones, according to a person familiar with the decision,” Dina Bass reports for Bloomberg.

“The company will concentrate on putting Zune software onto mobile phones such as those running Microsoft’s Windows operating system, said the person, who declined to be identified because the decision hasn’t been announced,” Bass reports. “Zune software lets customers buy songs and movies, as well as pay a monthly fee to stream unlimited music.”

Bass reports, “Microsoft will continue to sell existing versions of the Zune, the person familiar with the matter said.”

MacDailyNews Take: Puleeze. To whom are Microsoft going to sell dead-end pretend iPods with no future development? The eleven existing Zune owners (a mix of IT doofuses and Ballmers)? Just grow a pair for once and issue the press release: Zune players are dead.

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114 Comments

Will Thurrott, Enderle, Dvorak, Bill & Melinda Gates & their two kids have to carry vinyl records under their armpits with them now whenever they want to listen to portable music in the absence of a Zune?

I almost feel sorry for the those MS children. Can you imagine what it must feel like when everyone else has iPods or iPhones and they have to walk around with Zunes. Well, I guess they really understand what Bill went through as a kid.

i may the only one, but i always thought zune t. was a girl…my gf thought the same..she said zt’s comments are the way a girl talks about technology…….then when i question her on something she says about computer stuff, she says i just don’t understand women ; > ( >

not sure if you have a gf or have had a gf but sometimes they just go online on their own, and yes *gasp* some go to mdn…and some sit and talk (think that’s what she’s doing) while i cruise around peering at the screen time to time….she’s worth every minute of it, tho…. ; > )))

The one Zune owner I know will be very disappointed when this goes public. I always enjoy watching him endlessly sideways-scrolling in attempts to find something, never finding it, and plugging in for a recharge.

I can’t believe you gullible MAC sheep believe this sensationalist hit piece from Bloomberg, whoever they are. I wouldn’t be surprised that MAC was behind this with their RDF manipulating the truth. Typical MAC. They’re only good at marketing.

All I’m reading in these comments is wishful thinking from a bunch of cultist lemmings who can’t give up their dumpy I-Pods. There hasn’t been any innovation or imagination whatsoever in MAC’s 10-year old me-too Zunes. Fact is Zune is the future of portable media players with it’s ground-breaking color schemes, points system and delightful-to-use Zune Marketplace. Without Zune where is MAC going to generate new ideas for I-Pods?

Nice try! But you might have lucked out today, because I can’t find the link to the original bet, no doubt because I didn’t store it in my Outlook calendar…
Maybe the MDN dwarves can help us? Searching for “Zune” “Hammer” and “Bet” turns up nothing.

In any case, if you’ll remember, the terms of the bet were something like thus:

If the Zune is ever the #1 media player by sales, I will smash my black iPod nano (still in use!) with an Estwing framing hammer.
If, conversely, the Zune is ever discontinued, you’ll smash your wondrous, award-wanting Zune.